Jonathan Swann Taylor is an accomplished trial attorney with extensive experience in general civil litigation. Known for his strategic thinking and client-centered approach, Jonathan provides effective, efficient legal representation to a diverse range of clients. His practice areas include Civil Rights Litigation, Constitutional Rights Litigation, Governmental Defense Litigation, Education Law, Defense of Election Contests, Employment Law, Insurance Defense Litigation, Personal Injury, Business Litigation, and Commercial Law.
Jonathan is a prolific litigator with a strong track record of success. While he may only be 44 years old, Jonathan has already tried more than 50 cases, many of which were jury trials, and he has a good sense of what works and what doesn’t work inside the courtroom. He has secured favorable verdicts for clients in both state and federal courts across Tennessee. He has also argued successfully before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Tennessee Supreme Court, and the Tennessee Court of Appeals. Notably, Jonathan is believed to be the only private practice attorney in Tennessee to win civil appeals before the Tennessee Supreme Court in both 2013 and 2014.
While Jonathan has significant experience handling all types of litigation, he is frequently retained to defend governmental entities such as counties, municipalities, school districts, and utility districts, as well as their employees, managers, controlling boards, bodies and officials in all areas of governmental liability, in state and federal courts throughout Tennessee. Through focused and aggressive legal writing, he has secured the dismissal of many of these cases prior to trial, often in the early stages of litigation.
Prior to joining Kramer Rayson, Jonathan served as the managing partner for almost a decade at a boutique full-service litigation firm where he honed his skills as a successful trial lawyer across the State of Tennessee.
When he’s not practicing law, Jonathan enjoys spending time with his wife, Danielle, and their two young daughters, Madeline and Emily. His family loves to spend time at the lake, grilling out, and attending any University of Tennessee sporting events. Jonathan also enjoys traveling and exploring new destinations.
HONORS & AWARDS
In 2017, Jonathan was honored to be appointed by Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee to serve as a member of the Magistrate Merit Selection Panel. This panel included five lawyers and two non-lawyer community members who were tasked with reviewing and evaluating more than three dozen applications to fill the vacancy that was created by the retirement of United States Magistrate Judge C. Clifford Shirley, Jr. This work ultimately resulted in the selection and appointment of Debra C. Poplin to the position of United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee on September 13, 2017.
CIVIC & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
• University of Tennessee Alumni Association
• Active participant in various local charitable initiatives
